Fantastic Five

An array of eclectic and stylish homes are scattered throughout South Florida — and we were fortunate enough to talk to some of the residents responsible for these extraordinary abodes. From a newborn baby girl to Lady Gaga to fitness, read on to learn what inspired each homeowner as they created their private sanctuaries.

JENNIFER HOREV: 

Everything White

Jennifer Horev is cofounder of two successful Miami Beach restaurants — Pura Vida and Abbale Telavivian Kitchen. Along with her husband Omer the couple opened the eateries to offer healthy meals in an inviting, casual atmosphere. Since we know the restaurants are beautifully decorated, we were curious about their home. Is it just as stunning? Let’s find out. 

How would you describe the style of your home? Warm, bright and airy with lots of reclaimed wood, textured wallpaper and stone.

What is the coolest piece/room in your house and what makes it cool? Our daughter Elle’s room. The room is covered with Phillip Jeffries textured grey wallpaper, plush animal print carpet and beautiful custom Roman shades sewn by my sister. I love anything handmade and the energy it brings.

Weirdest/oddest/surprising find in your home? Our wicker peacock chair. It reminds me of my childhood. My husband hates it. It’s possible he might have already gotten rid of it, blaming an unexpected windstorm. 

Pretend your house is burning down (just pretend!) and you only have time to take one house-related item (iPads and books don’t count!) — what would it be? Our wedding album, I treasure it so much. 

You overhear your best friend describing your design style at a cocktail party, what does he/she say? That I design spaces that are warm and inviting, and that I love everything to be white.

Absolute favorite design trend? Vintage finds. I love to give old objects new life. 

Design trend you wish would go away? I love pastels for a commercial setting, but do not love them for home décor.

What kind of design project is tedious but SO worth the end result? The final touches of décor: little details make all the difference in making a house a home.

What kind of design additions or changes have you recently made to your home? The nursery and the playroom. I do not like clutter, so it was important to have cabinets to hide the toys. Our beautiful baby girl inspired us to create a welcoming home for our family.

JEFF FOWLER: 

Casa Gaga

Jeff Fowler describes his house as an adventure. His whole life, really, has been one great adventure. For 26 years, he worked at The Breakers in Palm Beach, helping to oversee charity galas and upscale weddings of clients including the late Rush Limbaugh. Today, he works for Creative Edge Parties, a luxury catering and event planning company in New York and Miami. His team just finished events for real estate developer Steve Wynn and entrepreneur Bill Gates. Fowler is fun and engaging, traits reflected in his home as well. 

How would you describe the style of your home? My home is named Casa Gaga because of a mixed media print of Lady Gaga that I was gifted. A stylized skull theme runs throughout my house, as does collections from my travels around the world. I have tons of candles everywhere.

What is the coolest piece/room in your house and what makes it cool? My dining room. It has custom-print wallpaper from floor to covered ceiling. I designed this wallpaper with skulls, monstera leaves and succulents, based on my favorite designer Alexander McQueen's skull print.

Weirdest/oddest/surprising find in your home? My fabric Chihuly-inspired sea urchin-styled floor lamp. It’s truly a work of art. 

Pretend your house is burning down (just pretend!) and you only have time to take one house-related item (iPads and books don’t count!) — what would it be? My father’s rules of life that I have framed. He’s no longer with us so I display these amazing rules in honor of him.

You overhear your best friend describing your design style at a cocktail party, what does he/she say? Black and white vibes with a breezy hipster mood and slightly edgy with a gothic flair.

Absolute favorite design trend? An entire house or building painted black. I also love all black matte rooms walls and ceiling, it adds so much edge.

Design trend you wish would go away? Anything floral print. 

It seems everything eventually comes back in style. What home design element do you wish would return? I am obsessed with flocked wallpaper! 

What kind of design project is tedious but SO worth the end result? My home has a backyard that features a lot of lounge areas, a bed and the perfect mix of greens and trees. Curating this was time consuming. 

What kind of design additions or changes have you recently made to your home? I went from all warm colors to crisp whites because I wanted to create  an Acapulco, beach-style with a little funk.

RACHEL BARR: 

All Zen

Rachel Barr, a former real estate agent and long-term Boca Raton resident, is living her best life. This mother of two adult daughters spends her time biking, traveling and making her home unique and comfortable with her husband, Greg.  

How would you describe the style of your home? Monochromatic — an eclectic mix of furniture and textures, but a singular palette.

What is the coolest piece/room in your house and what makes it cool? An original Knoll Womb chair circa 1950 that we had recovered. It’s been in the family for decades. 

Weirdest/oddest/surprising find in your home? The green wall of plants and mosses at the entrance to the master bedroom. A close second is the corduroy wall as you step inside from the garage, with the hidden pantry and laundry room doors. 

Pretend your house is burning down (just pretend!) and you only have time to take one house-related item (iPads and books don’t count!) — what would it be? I’d load that Womb chair on my back and run!

You overhear your best friend describing your design style at a cocktail party, what does he/she say? Clean and calm. I like to create a Zen atmosphere. 

Absolute favorite design trend? A monochromatic mixing of materials and textures. We use throw pillows, flowers and art to add pops of color.

Design trend you wish would go away? Intense, bold colors — they stress me out! 

It seems everything eventually comes back in style. What home design element do you wish would return? Affordable craftsmanship. The pandemic has made every element of building a house more expensive and difficult.

What kind of design project is tedious but SO worth the end result? Hand-painted textured walls are so beautiful in an understated way. 

What kind of design additions or changes have you recently made to your home? We knocked down the whole house! The biggest change is the incredible outdoor space.

FELICIA SHIELDS: 

Cool, Calm And Collected

Felicia Shields has spent more than 25 years working in the fitness, wellness and spa industries. Today, she serves as COO of Fitnessmith, a company that designs custom gym environments. While Shields knows exactly what to fit into a home workout space, we’ve found that she has a fantastic eye for home design as well. 

How would you describe the style of your home? Our home has both transitional and contemporary design elements. We live on the Intracoastal. Our design intent was to select interiors that complement the water and nurture a feeling of calm.

What is the coolest piece/room in your house and what makes it cool? Our home gym. We layered in interactive cardio with both live and on-demand classes, as well as pre/post workout and recovery options. From yoga to HIIT, we can experience a variety of workouts in our home.

Weirdest/oddest/surprising find in your home? The cabana bath décor with painted wall tiles. Fish and coral grace the entire wall.  My husband thinks it adds character. Let’s just say we are still negotiating the replacement of the fish tiles!

Pretend your house is burning down (just pretend!) and you only have time to take one house-related item (iPads and books don’t count!) — what would it be? Personal mementos such as old family photos and the box of handwritten cards from my husband and son.

You overhear your best friend describing your design style cocktail party, what does he/she say? Cool, calm and collected.

Absolute favorite design trend? Incorporating natural elements into design. Our home has an inviting balance of wood and marble.

Design trend you wish would go away? Shag area rugs.

It seems everything eventually comes back in style. What home design element do you wish would return? When I was growing up, antique furniture was incorporated into my family’s home. Furniture was meaningful. I would love to see antique furniture reintroduced as a desired design element.

What kind of design project is tedious but SO worth the end result? Customizing our home-automation plan. Lighting, media, security … scenes for every imaginable scenario. The end result was worth the effort.

What kind of design additions or changes have you recently made to your home? We refreshed the majority of our home after the purchase, and it continues to this day. It’s a labor of love.

DUFF RUBIN: 

Wicked Cool

Duff Rubin, the President of Coldwell Banker Realty in Florida, has certainly seen his share of homes during his 20-plus years in the real estate business. They’ve run the gamut in design and style, but we wanted to know about his own home décor. Below is a peek into Rubin’s oasis here in South Florida.

How would you describe the style of your home? Smart and modern. It has the latest in smart-home technology, coupled with modern furniture. 

What is the coolest piece/room in your house and what makes it cool? The chandelier. It looks like a jelly fish, which is very Florida.

Weirdest/oddest/surprising find in your home? The elevator. I never use it. It’s used to store things.

Pretend your house is burning down (just pretend!) and you only have time to take one house-related item (iPads and books don’t count!) — what would it be? I would take my college hockey jersey and my buddy’s Canadian gold medal jersey from 2010.

You overhear your best friend describing your design style at a cocktail party, what does he/she say? Ultra-modern and wicked cool.

Absolute favorite design trend? The waterfall shower. 

What design trend do you wish would go away? Spanish tile roofs are no longer a good look and they create major issues during hurricanes as the tiles can fly off and be destructive.

It seems everything eventually comes back in style. What home design element do you wish would return? I would love a fireplace. The sound of crackling wood and watching a fire burn is very calming. 

What kind of design project is tedious but SO worth the end result? Designing your home to be technology advanced. I love the idea of controlling items like appliances and blinds from my remote or iPhone.  

What kind of design additions or changes have you recently made to your home? I had the garage floor done with a special coating. The walls are covered in panels with hooks to accommodate bikes and the Tesla charger.